Student Placement - Corporate Affairs

Job Description

12-Month Corporate Affairs Student Placement offering hands-on experience in healthcare policy, communications, patient engagement, digital communications, and stakeholder relations.

Our Corporate Affairs team helps shape healthcare policy, build stakeholder relationships, and communicate the value of innovation to support patients and healthcare systems.

During this 12-month Corporate Affairs Student Placement, you will gain hands-on experience across policy, communications, digital engagement, and patient engagement. Working closely with the UK Policy & Communications team, you will support projects that influence healthcare policy, strengthen corporate reputation, and drive employee engagement, while developing strategic communications skills and collaborating with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders.

This role will be based in our modern state-of-the-art co-working facilities in Moorgate, London. This site, at the heart of London provides fantastic amenities, support services and collaborative workspaces with convenient transport links. 

 

We are a global biopharmaceutical leader committed to enhancing the lives of individuals through a diverse portfolio of prescription medicines, oncology treatments, life-saving vaccines, and animal health products. Our unwavering dedication to delivering innovative solutions is the driving force behind everything we do.

Responsibilities:

• Support healthcare policy, public affairs, and stakeholder engagement activities through research, analysis, and the preparation of briefing materials.
• Contribute to internal and external communication initiatives, including content creation, employee engagement, and corporate messaging.
• Assist with digital and social media campaigns, content planning, and the maintenance of communications resources.
• Support patient engagement activities, external events, and collaboration with healthcare and patient organisations.
• Contribute to cross-functional Corporate Affairs projects, helping to coordinate activities, track progress, and support project delivery.
• Build knowledge of the healthcare, policy, and communications landscape while developing stakeholder management, communication, and project management skills.

Requirements:

• You must be currently studying at a UK university and will be looking to complete a 12-month student internship as part of your undergraduate degree.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to build effective relationships and communicate with a range of stakeholders.
• Strong organisational, analytical, and research skills, with excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
• An interest in healthcare, public policy, communications, public affairs, media, or related fields.
• Eagerness to learn, contribute, and develop in a dynamic and collaborative environment, with an interest in healthcare innovation, patient outcomes, and public policy.

How to Apply (Please Read):

Please complete the online application form by answering questions within the application and upload your CV and Cover Letter in a combined document in the ‘resume/CV’ section.

 

Our standard Future Talent recruitment process is: An online application, a virtual conversation and then a final assessment.

 

Next Steps:

In the event of your successful progression to the next stage, one of our future talent team will contact you within two - three weeks of the application closing date. 

 

Start Date:

June 2027

 

Equal Opportunity Employer:

We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing diverse, talented, and committed people together. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when diverse ideas come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.

 

For more Information visit our Future Talent page!

 

#UKFT26

Required Skills:

Clinical Research, Clinical Research, Cloud Data Catalog, Communication Strategy Development, Conference Coordination, Data Analysis, Database Management, Data Science, Data Security, Data Visualization, Data Wrangling, Detail-Oriented, Engagement Programs, Engagement Strategies, Event Planning, External Relations, Internal Communications, Key Performance Indicators (KPI), Multitasking, Policy Communications, Presentation Preparations, Progress Monitoring, Project Management, Python (Programming Language), Relationship Building {+ 9 more}

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully 
Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company.  No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails. 

Employee Status:

Intern/Co-op (Fixed Term)

Relocation:

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

no

Job Posting End Date:

10/13/2026

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.